Helping someone going through depression

Whether it’s a family member, a friend or a partner. All you need to do is just be there. You don’t need to drive down and wait for me at my front door. You don’t need to grab me by the wrist and drag me out. You don’t need to call me until I answer. Throwing my favourite food and things at me doesn’t work either. I only wish it did.  The best thing you can do is just listen even if it’s only silence you are listening to. Just be there. Some of the other things you could do to make the person feel less alone, help and support them;

• Learn about depression yourself, read about it
• It’s important to learn that depression is not the same for everyone, there are different TYPES OF DEPRESSION
• Also, don’t go assuming that the type of depression you read about is what your friend/partner or family member is experiencing / it’s not all the same and they may not feel the same way as what you read about online
• Just listen… just with your eyes, ears and heart
• Be there even if you are pushed away… I have pushed people away and I don’t mean it
• Hold their hand
• Hold them
• Don’t take their lack of effort, emotion or motivation personal or to heart – it doesn’t mean they don’t care … they just don’t feel, emptiness takes over
• Have patience
• Do small things together
• Go on long walks and explore nature even if you walk in silence
• Sit with them even when they have nothing to say … just sit there
• Learn about therapy and other help out there to suggest to them
• Say what is on your mind
• Be open and honest with them, don’t feel like you have to act a certain way or be a certain way because of their depression
• Be yourself and be there for them!

Just being there and showing you are there is enough. A listening ear is worth more than a thousand words. Oh & a hug, a tight hug.

Zo

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